An Update on Current Immigration Legislation and Its Affects on the People

 Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437)

On December 16, 2005 this bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 239 to 182.  Here are some of the provisions:

1. Unlawful presence in the U.S. will be a crime - in effect authorizing state and local police to authorize immigration law.
2. Make the unlawful presence convictions an aggravated felony, which could make millions of immigrants permanently ineligible for any legalization program.
3. Expand the definition of "alien smuggling" in such a way that anyone who assists an undocumented person to live and stay in the U.S. could be charged with a criminal offense.
4. Require the construction of a fence along the U.S. - Mexico border.
5. Specifically authorize state and local police to enforce immigration law.

These points as they affect everyday citizens in the U.S:

1. This is all-inclusive; it does not account for the most menial labor such as maids, housekeepers, farm workers, etc.
2. Leaves no alternatives for the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have mortgages, car loans, children in college, small businesses, etc.  Since we do not know exactly how many illegal immigrants currently make purchases, pay utilities, and insurance, etc., there is no way to gauge the effect on the U.S. economy.
3. This is all-inclusive; includes non-profit and homeless and church and education-based programs in the U.S.  Will not permit currently undocumented children to attend school nor will the permit U.S. citizens or hospitals from assisting in times of crisis - in effect, "Let them die or you will be prosecuted."
4. Already in progress.
5. Will create "profiling" which will cause civil rights abuses of anyone who is "brown."

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This could be your new law if enacted.  The republicans, in a misguided attempt to bring about "public favor" will be deporting illegal immigrants 'en mass' over the next several months. 

Keep in mind that this will be enough to win political favor but not long enough for the nation to experience the consequences.

WE MUST remember something VERY important: 

"As we go into the future, unemployment rates are now sufficiently low that it is unrealistic to expect to see huge gains in output from increased labor.  That is true even more so as we move into the distant future, because the slowing growth of the population and the aging of baby boomers will mean a smaller supply of workers to support the economic engine.  By far the single most important determinant of jobs in the economy is population.  In Figure 4, it is apparent that there is a high correlation between population growth rates and labor force growth rates.  In order to sustain growth and output, it will be necessary, therefore, to ensure that productivity increases.  To put this in historical perspective, note that the U.S. working age population increased by 84 percent between 1950 and 2000.  During the next fifty years, the population is projected to increase by 31 percent.  And our situation, incidentally, is less problematic than that facing other countries.  For example, Japan's population is expected to decline by 34 percent over that same period, and Italy's population will decline by 33 percent.  All of these trends increase the dependency ratio and make productivity growth even more important."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/lazear20060713.html

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This is an extremely short-sighted "fix" designed to gain political favor - but NOT in the best interest of this nation.

I do not believe the legislative bill above encompasses all that is needed.  I think it is mostly political rhetoric and does not take into affect the economic necessities of our nation.  Like any American, I want control, I want prosperity, I want to dream and I want to succeed.  I want a government that operates in the best interest of its people.  I want "One nation, under God, indivisible and liberty and justice for all."

I want a humane solution without persecution.  I want valid immigration legislature that addresses my needs as well as those on our soil who have helped fuel our economy for more than a decade.  I want a plan that is beneficial to the deserving and critical of those who would harm us – be they Mexican or any other nationality.

What do you want?